Slub catcher



Feb, 14, 1933. o. L. HUMPHREY SLUB CATCHER' Filed Aug. 27, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet l nan? 30 fi /59 F ,60

Feb. 14, 1933.

O. L. HUMPHREY SLUB CATCHER Filed Aug. 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2wvewiav:

Feb. 14, 1933. O HUMPHREY 1,897,518

SLUBVCATGHER Filed Aug. 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inveniov:

0i L mph e vii/figs.

Feb. 14, 1933. o. L. HUMPHREY 1,397,513

SLUB CATCHER Filed Aug. 27, 1931 4 Sheet-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 14, 19331,897,518

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE OTIS L. HUMPHREY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTSSLULB CATCI-IER Application filed August 27, 1931. Serial No. 559,685.

This invention pertains to textile apparaapply the force thus developedas hereintus and relates more particularly to devices after more fullydescribed. On the other generally known as slub catchers which are handsuch an arrangement of accurately parcommonly designed to remove from astrand, allel surfaces as that just described can not for example spunyarn, imperfections in the always be depended upon to detect smallnature of local enlargements on the strand, hard slubs or fly and thusin accordance such local enlargements including those comwith thepresent invention I propose to commonly known as slubs, knots, doubles,etc. bine devices responsive respectively to both Usually slub catchersare intended to out, types of slub, to wit long soft yielding slubs 10break or otherwise sever the yarn whenever and small, hard slubs, andfly, thereby insur- 0 such a local enlargement is brought into the ingthe effective and certain removal of all field of action of the slubcatcher, but in such local enlargements from the strand, and preparingcertain kinds of yarn it is also in certain embodiments of the inventionfind important to remove abnormally thin places, it readily possible toprovide for the recommonly known as singles, but no slub moval ofabnormally thin places in the catcher known to me is capable ofperformstrand, as well. ing both of these functions. In attaining thisdesirable result I employ A common type of slub catcher which is in aprimary strand severing means, preferably quite general use comprisesrelatively mova slub catcher of more or less usual type able partsbetween which a strand of normal adapted to operate directly in responseto diameter passes freely but which are caused impact by hard knots orslubs, thereby to to approach by engagement with a local ensever theyarn, but I combine therewith seclargement so as directly to sever thestrand ondary means, hereinafter referred-t0 as dehy cutting, pinchingor clamping it. While tector means, adapted to move from a normal a slubcatcher of this usual type may be deposition in response to engagementby anpended upon in most cases to sever the yarn other kind of localenlargement, for example in response to the impact of hard slubs, asoft, yielding slub, and in so moving caus knots, or the like, it is notwholly depending the primary severing element of the slub able forremoving soft yielding imperfeccatcher proper to sever the yarn. tions,even though of substantial length and Thus one object of the inventionis to p-roconsiderably exceeding the normal diameter ide apparatus ofthe class described, which of the strand, such soft enlargements beingis dependably operative to effect severance of frequently encountered inworsted yarns in the strand in response to local enlargements particularand being especially objectionof distinctively different character. Afurable in any yarn which is to be used in knitther object is to providea slub catcher havting, as well as for certain kinds of weaving primarysevering means such as a knife, ing. pinching element, clamp, or thelike, past After considerable experiment I have diswhich the strandnormally moves freely but covered that when a yarn carrying a soft whichis operated to sever the yarn in reyielding slub is moved between twosubstansponse to the impact of a hard slub, and in tially parallel andunyielding surfaces of combination therewith a movable detectorconsiderable length in the direction of yarn element having strandcontacting surfaces travel. such surfaces being rigidly spaced a such asto develop a frictional drag, by the distance slightly exceeding thenormal yarn passage of a soft and yielding slub, suflicient diameter, asubstantial friction force is deto move the detector element and therebyto veloped by the soft slub in moving between cause the primary severingmeans to act. A surfaces. particularly when, as sugfurther object is toprovide a slub catcher iced, the slub is of substantial length. alhavingprimary strand severing means past though it may be soft and yielding.For which the strand normally moves freely, and the removal of such softslubs I propose to a movable detector device arranged when moved inresponse to the engagement thereby of a local enlargement on the strandto change the path of the strand so as to move the latter into operativeengagement with the primary severing means. A further object is toprovide means operative to remove both local enlargements and abnormallythin places or singles from the strand.

Other objects will appear from an examination of the followingdescription and of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention, the partsbeing shown in their normal positions;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, the parts, however, beingshown in the positions assumed when a slub in the yarn has beenpresented and the yarn consequently severed;

Fig. 4: is a sectional view taken along the line 1- 1 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention, theparts being shown in their normal positions;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view thereof;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation similar to 6, the parts being shown in thepositions assumed when a slub in the yarn has been presented and theyarn consequently severed;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the device taken along the line 99 ofFig. 6;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the detector unit of this device;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig.10; and

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a modification.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,includes a bracket provided with a recess 21 adapted to receive astationary support, for example, a shaft, plate or bar 22. the brackethaving a set screw 23 by which it is rigidly secured to the support.Mounted upon the bracket 20 area yarn tensioning unit A, secondary orslub detector unit B, and a primary or yarn severing unit C. The yarnpasses through the unit A, over a guide spool 24 to the unit B, andthence through the unit C, it being understood that in its broaderaspects the invention is independent of the specific: details of theunits employed.

The tensioning unit A may, for example, comprise a plate 25 pivotallyattached to and adjustable upon the bracket- 20 by means of bolt 26. andhas a guide eye 27 at one end thereof. Fixed upon the plate 25 aretensioning disks 28, and a guide spool 29. The disks and spool are ofany desired wear-resistant material.

The detector unit B, as illustrated in the embodiment of Fig. 1,includes a pair of parallel arms 30 and 31, each supported at one endupon a stub shaft 32 and provided at the other end with axiallyadjustable friction disks 33 and 34, respectively. These disks arepreferably of wear-resistant material, for example, case hardened iron,nitrided or chrome plated steel, porcelain, glass, or the like, havingsmooth and preferably polished yarn engaging surfaces which, when theparts are assembled, are held in parallel relation, the edges of thedisks preferably being rounded or bevelled to facilitate threading theyarn into the space between them. As shown in Fig. 5, the disks 33 and34 each has an externally threaded sleeve 35 and 36, respectively, whichproject through openings in the corresponding supporting arms and aresecured in position by nuts 37 and 38 which mesh with the threadedportions of the sleeves so that the disks are clamped securely to theinner faces of the arms. The disk-carrying ends of the arms areconnected by abolt 10 which rigidly and accurately regulates the spacebetween the disks.

41 which receives the cylindrical head d2 of the bolt 40, while theouter end of the sleeve 36 is internally threaded to receive the threadsof the bolt. In the bolt head 42 are formed depressions 43 which may beengaged by a spanner wrench to rotate the bolt and adjust the distancebetween the disks. It may be noted that the size of the parts is suchthat although the yarn path is eccentric to the axis of the disks, thelatter are held firmly in parallel relation and will not spring apart inresponse to the wedglng action of an entering slub. Preferably the arms30 and 31 are nor mally bowed away from each other to a slight extent,so that when the parts are assembled hey exert outward resil entpressure against the collars 37 and 38. thus taking up any lost motionin the engaging screw threads of the parts and 36. Projecting from thearm 30 is a finger'4i5 which serves as a yarn guide and which may bemanually engaged to shift the detector unit if desired. while a finger46 projects from the arm 31 for a reason to be set forth hereinafter. bythe support 20, extends behind the arms and provides a rest againstwhich the detector unit normally lies (see 1) The severing unit C chosenfor illustration in Fig. 1 includes normally fixed bed roll 50 thrbughwhich extends a bolt 51 engaged at its outer end by a nut 52 sothat theroll is secured to the support. Projecting adjacent to one end of theroll 50 is a gu ding finger 53 which may include opening therein throughwhich the bolt 51 passes. The cooperating severing element is shown as aknife 55 pivotallv supported at 58 and having a cutting blade 56 and atail 57 extend ng substantially at ri ht ang es thereto. The knife 55 ispivoted to swing The outer end of the sleeve 35 is recessed to providechamber A crossbar 17 carricch a flange 54 having an freely upon thebolt 58 which is secured to the support 20 by anut- 59. Projecting fromthe support 20 below the tail 5'? of the knife is a tab 60 through whichextends set-screw 61. The tail 57 preferably is heavier than the blade56 so that it normally rests upon the set-screws 61 and holds the blade56 out of contact with the roll 50. The set-screw 61 may be raised orlowered to determine the width of the space between the blade and theroll, and is fixed in such position by a nut 62, the adjustment beinsuch that when hard slubs or knots on the yarn encounter the edge ofblade 56, they cause the latter to swing downwardly toward the bed roll,thereby severing the yarn by a cutting or pinching ac tion.

The embodiment disclosed in Figs. 6 to 11 corresponds generally to theembodiment previously described and the common elements will beindicated by primes of the reference characters used in Figs. 1 to 5,inclusive, and will not be again described in detail.

In this embodiment the slub detector B comprises a pair of arms 70, 71pivotally supported at one end upon a bolt 72 secured in position. uponthe support 20 by nuts 73. The arms terminate at tl e other ends inflanges 74 and 75 bent substantially at right angles to the bodyportions. Mounted upon the inner faces of the flanges 74, T5 are thedisks 33 and 3% which are preferably secured to the flanged ends of thearms in the manner in which the disks 33, 34 are secured to the arms and31. The flanges Tel and 75 are yieldably separated by an expansion coilspring 76 carried by a cup '37 mounted upon the flange 74 and hearing atone end against the flange 75 (see Fig. 11). In order to permit theseparation of the flanges, the arm '50 is provided with a longitudinallyextending slot 78 through which the bolt 72 passes. Mounted on thesleeve 36' between the flange 75 and the nut 33 is was ier 79 from whichprojects the finger 46.

The yarn severing unit C (illustrated in Fig. 8) is of a well knowntype, and I make no claim thereto except in combination with the otherelements of my improved device as herein described. This unit Ccomprises a bed roll secured to the support 20 by a bolt 51, and aspring blade 80. The blade 80 is mounted upon an upwardly inclined plate81 which may, as here shown, form an integral part of a strip 82 securedby a screw 83 to the support 20. i1 portion of the support below thestrip 82 is cut away to form a recess 84: in which mounted a springcoiled around a set screw The head of the screw 86 enters a recessformed by bending a tongue 8'? projecting from one rde of the strip 82,a hole 88 being provid ed in the tongue through which the screw may bemanipulated, as indicated in l The blade supporting plate 81 terminatesadjacent to the bed roll 50 in a flange 90 having a slot 91 throughwhich the blade 80 projects. Obviously the space between the cuttingedge of theblade 80 and the bed roll 50 may be regulated by the screw 86and spring 85.

i In each of the above-described embodiments the yarn on its way to awinding bobbin, cone, tube, spool, or other manipulating device (notshown) travels from the tensioning unit between the disks of the slubdetector unit and over the bed roll of the slub catching or severingunit. As passes over the bed roll the yarn is in contact with or justout of contact with the cutting blade. The disks of the detector unitare spaced a predetermined distance apart and the cutting blade islikewise spaced with respect to the bed roll so that yarn of normaldiameter will pass freely therebetween, it being noted in particularthat the distance etween the parallel faces of the disks 33 and 3% maybe adjusted with great accuracy and that when once adjusted, the disksremain relatively lined and do not yield in response to the wedgingaction of slubs entering between them.

lVhen, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, there arrives a soft local enlargementin the strand too large to pass freely between the disks, the frictionalforce exterted by this slub upon the V disks will cause the detectorunit to swing on its pivot until the finger 46 or 46) strikes the cuttinblade of the severin unit and causes it to sever the yarn. If the slubis soft, it may yield and pass into the space he tween the disks, butowing to the distance it must travel between the disks and the increasedfriction set up by its passage, it will cause the detector unit to swingand actuate the cutting blade. On the other hand, very small, hard slubsor fly which may be able to pass between the detector disks, will engagethe cutting element of the slub catcher unit and directly operate thelatter to sever the yarn in usual manner.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5,

inclusive, the yarn passes normally through the detector unit insubstantially a straight path from the guide spool 24 to the bed roll50. However, when the detector unit is swung upwardly by a slub, thepath of the yarn is thereby shifted,the yarn being raised into directcontact with the knife blade, and in dealing with certain yarns, atleast, this is sufficient to produce the desired cutting action, so thatunder some conditions the blade actuating member l6 may be dispensedwith as unnecessary.

It is of importance to note that the disks 33 and 34.- are ofsubstantial diameter so that the path of the yarn across their opposedfaces is of considerable length, thus insuring development of therequisite frictional force by the passage of a soft enlargement, andthat the means provided for adjusting, supporting and spacing the disksis of a character rangement the arm 30 corresponds to the arm of Fig. 3and carries detector elements and a finger L6 of similar constructionand function. On the pivot 32' which carries the arm 30 is mounted abell crank lever having an upstanding arm provided with a stop lug 101disposed in the path of upward movement of the arm 30. The bell cranklever also has an arm 102 carrying an adjustable weight 103 which isnormally supported by a fixed stop 104 so that the lug 101 normallyengages the arm 30. A fixed stop 47 limits the movement of arm 30 in theopposite direction. The cutter member 56 which corresponds inconstruction and function to the cutter 56 of Fig. 3 is provided with anupstanding ear 105 having an aperture 106 through which freely passes alight thin rod 107. Preferably the ear 105 is so shaped at its upper endas to guide a strand accidena tally engaged therewith downwardly intoproper relation to the bed roll 50.

The rod 107 is pivotally secured at one end to a lug 108 projecting fromthe upper end of the arm 30 and is provided at its other end with a knob109 normally spaced from the ear 105 but adapted at times to engage saidear and thereby to swing the cutter to operative position.

In the normal operation of the mechanism the parts are positioned asshown in Fig. 12, the friction of the yarn in passing between thedetector disks of the arm 30 being such as to raise the arm away fromthe stop 47 and into contact with the lug 101. In this position the knob109 is spaced from the car 105. So long as the yarn continues to be ofnormal diameter, the parts maintain substantially this position eventhough local enlargements of immaterial size may encounter the detectorelements, since the weight 103 keeps the arm 30 from swinging and it isonly when such an enlargement is of a size such as to develop abnormalfriction force against the detector disks that the arm 30 risessufliciently to cause the finger 46 to engage the cutter 56 and therebyto cut the yarn. On the other hand, if an abnormally thin place such asa single passes the detector surfaces, the arm 30 is allowed to swingdownwardly, due to the decrease in the friction force exerted by thepassing yarn, and

runs the knob 109 engages the ear 105, swinging the cutter 56 intooperative position so as to cut the yarn. It is of course to beunderstood that the cutter 56 acts in the usual way by direct impactwith hard slubs to cut the yarn, and thus the apparatus is adapted todetect both soft slubs, thin places, and hard slubs and to cut the yarnwhenever such imperfections occur.

lVhile two embodiments of this invention have been shown and its use inconnection with worsted or other yarns described it will be understoodthat I am not limited thereto and that other embodiments and/ or usesmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a slub catcher, a combination of a movably mounted detectorelement and a severing unit, the severing unit comprising normallyspaced relatively movable parts between which the strand normally passesfreely but which are operative by direct impact of a hard slub therebyto sever the strand, the detector element including members whichpresent substantially parallel and unyielding surfaces of considerablelength in the direction of yarn travel and rigidly spaced apart adistance slightly exceeding the normal strand diameter so that whenengaged by a soft local enlargement in the strand it is moved therebyfrom its normal position, and means moving with the detector element formoving one of the parts of the severing unit relatively to the other tosever the strand.

2. In a slub catcher, the combination of a detector unit having anengaging element, a severing unit comprising a movable severing elementnormally disposed adjacent to a passing strand but so to permit freepassage of the strand thereby but which is operative by direct impact ofa hard slub to sever the strand, said movable detector element includingmembers which present substantially parallel and unyielding surfaces ofconsiderable length in the direction of yarn travel and rigidly spacedapart a distance slightly exceeding the normal strand diameter so thatwhen engaged by a soft local enlargement on the strand it is moved fromnormal position and by such movement directly actuates the movablesevering element tosever the strand.

3. In a slub catcher, a detector unit comprising a pair of parallelarms, disks mounted upon the inner surfaces of the arms in opposedrelation, each disk including a sleeve, means engaging said sleeves tosecure the disks to the arms, and a bolt passed through the sleeves formoving the disks a predetermined distance apart.

1. In a slub catcher, a detector unit comprising a pair of parallelarms, each pivetally supported at one end, disks mounted upon the innersurfaces of the arms, the faces of on th the disks being insubstantially parallel spaced relation, each disk including a sleeve,means engaging said sleeves to secure the disks to the arms, one sleevehaving an en-' larged recess at the outer end and the other sleeve beinginternally threaded at its inner end, and a bolt in the sleeves formoving the disks a predetermined distance apart, the head of said boltentering the recess of one sleeve, and said bolt being in threaded en--gagement with the other sleeve.

5. In a slub catcher, a detector unit comprising a pair of pivotallysupported parallel arms, disks mounted upon the inner surfaces of thearms in opposed relation, each disk including a. sleeve, means engagingsaid sleeves to secure the disks to the arms, a bolt passed through thesleeves for moving the disks a predetermined distance apart, and meansfor yieldably resisting such movement of the disks in one direction.

6. In a slub catcher, a detector unit comprising a pair of pivotallysupported parallel arms, disks mounted upon the inner surfaces of thearms in opposed relation, each disk including a sleeve, means engagingsaid sleeves to secure the disks to the arms, a bolt passed through thesleeves for moving the disks a predetermined distance apart, and meanscarried by one arm and engaging the other arm for yieldably resistingsuch movement of the disks in one direction.

7. A device of the class described having means defining a normal yarnpath, a movable detector having substantially parallel surfaces disposedat opposite sides of the yarn path and spaced to permit free passage ofyarn of normal diameter, said surfaces being of such extent in thedirection of yarn travel that a soft slub in passing between them Willdevelop friction force sufficient to move the detector with the yarn andchange the yarn path, a movable cutter for severing the yarn when thecutter is engaged by a hard slub e yarn, and means for transmittingmovement of the detector to the cutter to cause the latter to sever theyarn.

8. A device of the class described comprising detector unit having yarnengaging means, said detector moving in one direction from normalposition in response to passage of a local enlargement on the yarn andin the other direction in response to the passage of an abnormally thinplace in the yarn, and yarn severing means operative 1n response toeither of said movements of the detector unit to sever the yarn.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 25th day of August, 1931.

OTIS L. HUMPHREY.

